Mission to Kabul

Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing, 2006.

A novel about a 19th century Indian on a secret mission to Afghanistan. It presents a culturally accurate picture of Muslim life in South Asia at the time, without slowing the action of the story. Mahmoud, eldest son whose father is dead, lies about his brother’s love affair to protect him. The lie changes his life: he is sent to prison, then later blackmailed into undertaking a dangerous mission to Kabul. On that journey he sometimes meets kindness, sometimes trickery, is injured twice, kidnapped, imprisoned and escapes, delivers his message in Kabul. On his way back to India he is attacked by a Waziri tribe, with surprising results. This is a novel of passion, trust, betrayal, political intrigue, espionage, love.